§ Major HILLSasked the Minister of Labour (1) how many Whitley Councils are in active existence and how many have ceased to exist:
(2) whether he has any information as to the working of Whitley Councils and Works Committees; and whether it is proposed to hold any inquiry into the working of the scheme?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThere are in active existence 59 Whitley Councils; 10 other Councils have been set up, but for various reasons are suspended. In addition, 32 Interim Industrial Reconstruction Committees were set up about the time of the Armistice to enable the industries concerned to deal with their special reconstruction problems. Of these, 12 have converted themselves into Whitley Councils, 8 are in a state of suspension, and the remaining 12 are functioning. In the case of some of these bodies to which I have referred as being in suspense, there is a possibility of a resumption of activity on a somewhat different basis. A number of the Councils have set up Works Committees. The exact number of Works Committees is not known, but there are probably over 1,000, and, of course, there are other joint bodies with somewhat similar objects, though not formed precisely on the lines laid down in the Whitley Report.
I cannot, within the limits of this answer, describe in detail the working of these Councils and Committees. A report on the working of the Whitley Scheme is in preparation, and will shortly be published. I may, however, repeat what I have said on previous occasions, that, in my view, the Whitley Councils are a national asset and an important factor in avoiding industrial unrest. Nearly all the Councils have made arrangements for the joint consideration of wages which are regulated by national instruments. It will be appreciated that at the present time these problems are full of difficulties; these difficulties are, however, greatly minimised by the activities of the Councils. Further, much useful work is done in connection with hours and conditions of labour, training and apprenticeship, safety and welfare, research and the preparation of statistics, unemployment insurance, and other matters.